Late Summer

Eye on the Water 

Actually, I am not on the waterfront but this is when
a camera with good optical zoom comes in handy.
I like the critter on the sail.

Just curious!
🠞[Click on image to see a larger image.]🠜
This is a barge leaving Seattle on the way to Alaska.
The trip takes about one week.
Notice rail cars on the bottom level,
trucks and trailers on the top.
Can you imagine the cost of shipping?
Notice the green containers with letters AML
The barge is operated by Alaska Marine Lines.
See this LINK if you're curious how this all works
or perhaps want to ship a vehicle.

This little vessel is known as a Pilot boat.
Most large ships that enter and leave Port of Seattle have 
a Pilot aboard. The Pilot is familiar with local 
waters and helps the Captain of the ship
with safe navigation. The Pilot boat delivers the Pilot to
ships approaching Seattle or takes them off once they
have left Puget Sound.

I'm going to title this Fill-er-UP
This is a refueling barge on the way to refuel
one of the cruise ships docked at Pier 91.
Do you have any idea how many gallons of 
fuel a cruise ship uses on, let's say a voyage from
Seattle to Ketchikan, Alaska?
Web research says about 65,000 to 70,000
gallons of marine diesel and at today's US 
National Average price, about $3.71/gallon,
that would add up to about $259,700.
And that's just a couple of days of cruising. 😂

Here is the Lauren Foss tug.
Puget Sound - Foss Maritime Company
Foss is probably the biggest marine services company
in Seattle. One thing I love about them is the way
they name all their vessels after members of
the Foss family.

Loved seeing this RED SAIL sailboat.
An unusual spotting.
A marina full of sailboats is in my view.
In the next image below you can see a
portion of the Marina full of sailboats. A
group of enthusiasts like to get out on their
boats on Thursday evenings.

Talking about sailboats ... This vessel with super tall masts
is currently docked at the Marina. I snapped this picture on
a somewhat hazy/smoky morning but you get a good
view of the boat. The tallest mast is 205 feet!  I discovered
that by looking up the vessel online and, for Seattle, it
has quite the interesting name ... SEAHAWK. By
the way, it's interesting to compare the size of the 
Seahawk to the more ordinary sailboats
docked beyond it.

Stamps

12 Years of Critters - Chinese Zodiac

The Chinese zodiac, also known as Shengxiao 
(“born resembling”), is a repeating cycle of 12 years,
 with each year represented by a different animal.

What you're looking at is called a First Day Cover.
As you may know, John collects stamps.
The USPS issues stamps to celebrate all
sorts of special occasions. On the first day
a stamp is issued, postal collectors will be
at a Post Office to buy the new stamp and
place it on a special envelope. The special 
envelopes are often created by artists such as
the ones you see here. 

Note:  As a hobby, I've been collecting stamps longer than blogging. To me, one of the most interesting parts of stamp collecting is finding these First Day Covers aka FDCs.  The FDCs give you the stamp, the date it was first issued, and usually, some art work related to the reason for issuing the stamp.

Over time I've added all 12 special stamps
and First Day Covers celebrating the Chinese
Zodiac to my collection,  The one above
is the Year of the Tiger ... stamp issued 1998,
in Seattle, Washington.

In 1999 the postal rate for First Class increased to
33 cents. This FDC was postmarked in Los Angeles
on January 5, 1999. It was the beginning of the 
Year of the Hare (some call it Rabbit).

The first day of issue for the Year of the Dragon
stamp was January 6, 2000. How do you like
the artwork?

Number 6 in the Chinese Zodiac is the Year
of the Snake. The stamp rate was 34 cents.
This one is postmarked Oakland, California, on
January 20, 2001.
By the way, 2025 is a Year of the Snake! 

The Year of the Horse was celebrated with a 
new stamp on February 11, 2002 and this one
was postmarked New York, NY.

In 2003, the postal rate increased again, this time
up to 37 cents. The USPS celebrated the Year of the
Ram (some call it Goat) on January 15, 2003.

Year of the Monkey, postmarked January 13, 2004,
in San Francisco, California.

The 10th year of celebration in the Chinese Zodiac
is called the Year of the Rooster. To see the stamp
that celebrated the Rooster we have to go back to 
1992 when the Rooster stamp was issued on
December 30th in San Francisco, California.

The Year of the Dog, issued February 5, 1994,
in Pomona, California.

Last Chinese Zodiac animal is the Boar (or, as some
call it, Pig). The Boar stamp was issued December 30,
1994 in Sacramento, California.

I'm linking up with Saturday's Critters.
If you enjoyed the Chinese Zodiac critters,
you will love Saturday's Critters.
Check it out!

The Latest from my Niece!

Emma shares my fascination with stamps.
She recently sent me some stamps she
bought with her own money. I told her 
not to do that as I don't want her
spending her $ on me! 😊
By the way, her card has an embossed image
of a postal delivery van ... very nice, Emma!

Yes, this is a sheet of stamps issued by the 
USPS in celebration of their 250th Anniversary
of Delivering.  Like Emma said,
there's a lot to look for here.
There are 20 FOREVER stamps on the sheet.

My Newest Old Book

Roscoe Misselhorn's Pencil Sketches of
American Steam Trains
Published 1976 by Riverside Press
(49 years ago.)

This is a really LARGE book.
$1 bill added for SCALE.

Roscoe was a railfan and a pencil sketch artist.

Plate #6 of 33

Plate #17 of 33
How do you like his art?

Back Cover
A downside to this book is ... where will it fit 
in the library?

Skies

What do you think about these STRANGE clouds?
It was early morning and most of the sky
was covered with overcast.
These clouds reminded me of a chevron pattern
like you might see on clothing or a rug.
But what caused it in the sky?
Let me know if you have any ideas.

Looking out over Puget Sound on colorful
clouds just after sunset.

Fantastic photography!
This is an award winner in Dark Sky photography as
seen in the Dark Sky website. Well worth your time
to check out the photos. No, none of them are
mine 😊 but I love them and had to share with you.

I found this cloud to be fascinating.
At first, I thought I was seeing rain fall out of the cloud.
But now, I'm thinking it's just the wind blowing the
formation of the cloud into new directions.
If you're into clouds, what are your thoughts?

I'll close my "Clouds" section with this image captured
just after sunrise a few days ago. I had been sitting on my
deck watching the dawn with a cup of coffee. 😊
Suddenly I noticed this cloud formation and almost
thought I could see a FACE in it.  Let me know if
you can see it!

Closing thoughts …

#1

When your Middle School Sixth Grade
has a Web Day you know the
Internet is now a part of our lives. 😊

#2

Thanks for stopping by John's Island. I appreciate your comments. Feel free to copy anything and share it anywhere. Just so you know, I'm not standing by with a bunch of lawyers ready to sue you for copying my images! 😊 Lastly, I've been slowing down on publishing new posts recently. I'm getting pretty close to a thousand posts since starting back in 2010. Lately I've found some social media to be discouraging, so I've been cutting back on it. Take care out there and be well!

John

★★ Post #978 since December 28, 2010 ★★

Heat, Harbor, and a Hint of History

 Ships and Harbor Views

Two RoRos in ONE pic ... very unusual.
RoRos are vehicle carriers ... imagine them full of cars.
The southbound is headed to Port of Tacoma.
The northbound is probably returning to Asia
for another load ... or possibly American vehicles
going that way.

In yet another 2 for 1 shot we have 2 of Seattle's
afternoon tourist adventure ships.
At bottom: Argosy Tour Boat
Middle:  Salish Sea Tours
[For better, larger views, click on images]

Early morning shot of one of our cross-Sound Ferries.
The sun was lighting up the ferry but no so much
so the background which is West Seattle (in the near)
and Vashon Island (in the far distance).
The RED ARROW points to the Emergency Craft.
It is suprising how often a ferry deploys its
Emergency boat to help mariners in distress.

Golden Bear Training Ship
Cal Poly Maritime Academy
This vessel visited Seattle in late June.
Read more about the Golden Bear

Crew of Golden Bear as it arrived in Seattle.
This picture posted in local media by a crew member.
Would have been watching with binoculars if
I had know their time of arrival.

Another summer visitor ...
USCGC Eagle
Training cutter for future officers of the USCG
Read about the USCGC Eagle
My only disappointment ... It wasn't at full sail! 😢

Speaking of a sail boat at full sail ... here is a
colorful one!

My first time to see this ship visiting Seattle.
Per the ship's website ...
The Villa Vie Residences is not a cruise
ship ... it is a LIFESTYLE.
Read about living on this ship.

Keeping track of tariff effects ...

Recent container ships have looked similar to this one.
This is a small load of containers.
This cargo vessel is arrived from Asia
in early July.

This MSC Container ship is departing Seattle
with a very small load. Notice all the empty
spaces for containers.
Early July capture.

A curiosity ... Not sure if it has anything to do with
tariffs ... but this is my first time to see a PIL Container
Ship in Seattle. The red hull and blue containers give the 
ship a unique appearance.
Read about KOTA LUKIS Container Ship

Stamps - Hint of History

What is the most valuable, rare USPS stamp?   Answer:  The 1918 USPS 24 cent airmail stamp featuring the Curtiss JN-4 “Jenny” biplane (image below ... NOT in my collection 😓) 

In 1918, one sheet, of 100 stamps, was inadvertently printed with the plane upside down. The stamp was printed in two passes: first the red frame, then the blue plane.  One sheet inadvertently had the plane printed upside down—likely due to the sheet being rotated or the print plate misaligned during the second pass. Of the 100 stamps possibly still in existence, the most recent auction of one “Inverted Jenny” sold for approximately $2 million.

Want to read more about the Inverted Jenny?  Take a look here.  (Wikipedia)

Skies

The morning of the Full Buck Moon was partly cloudy and I was afraid I would miss my monthly picture of the Full Moon. I'm happy with the way a break in the clouds allowed the shot below.

Full Buck Moon
July 11, 2025

Clear skies sent me to Kerry Park
for this overview shot of Seattle
looking south ... Mt Rainier in the distance.
July 12th

I mentioned heat in the title. It has arrived. July 16 and 17 Seattle reached over 90F (about 32C) during the afternoons. So far, it hasn't been as bad as last year. Most of the snow cover on Two Brothers mountains, in the Olympic Range, has melted. How it looked July 11th ...

Two Brothers Mountains
Olympic Range as seen from Seattle
Mid-July 2025

Critters

My friend and blog follower Tim sent me this
photo of his sweet pups ... Arthur and Poly ...
while enjoying an afternoon siesta.

It's tough to post without including at
least one shot of my hummers.

While watching and waiting for hummers I noticed a
crow sitting atop a utility pole across the street. I 
believe most folks think of crows as a nuisance.
But really, they are an interesting bird.

Lastly ... A critter stamp 😂

Stamps (First Day Covers) and Critters ... two
hobbies in one image. This year, 2025 is the Year of
the Snake in the Chinese Zodiac
Read more about it (Wikipedia)

Speaking of Critters ...

I'm linking up with Saturday's Critters

Love critters? Check it out!

Closing thought ...

Sharing ... Do you get daily emails from those you've done business with in the past? Especially ones that might be health related? Well, I do. One of the issues I have with this is all the advertising that is included. I recently received an email from WebMD entitled 13 Ways to Beat the Afternoon Slump. As I read through it, I didn't really encounter anything new, but thought it was nice to see several good tips organized and well presented. So, I copied the information, removed the ads, and share it with you below. Let me know if you enjoy. 😊

13 Ways to Beat the Afternoon Slump

Written by Danny Bonvissuto

Medically Reviewed by Shruthi N, MD on February 09, 2024

Take a Walk

Your body isn’t built to be alert and productive 8 hours straight. Your levels of the hormone cortisol go up and down all day, which can leave you feeling sluggish in the afternoon. Take a walk to get your blood flowing. Even if it’s just around the building or the block, the change of scenery will also reenergize your senses.

Eat a Good Breakfast

Do you skimp on your morning meal or skip it altogether? If so, you’re missing out on important nutrients that help you concentrate, problem-solve, and be productive. It may also cause you to overeat at lunch, which can spike blood sugar. This leaves you tired and hungry a few hours later.

Do Energizing Yoga Stretches

Yoga is all about slow movements and deep breaths, both of which get your blood moving. It also helps you release any tension you’re holding in your body. You don’t have to get on the floor. Just back away from the computer and do some neck rolls, shoulder rolls, and a few seated side bends. Remember to breathe.

Drinkwater

Your body runs on water. When you don’t get enough, everything slows down. Drinking a glass of water will not only make you feel less tired by carrying nutrients and oxygen to your cells, it also helps keeps your blood pressure and heartbeat in check.

Sip Green Tea

Eight ounces of brewed green tea has slightly more caffeine than soda, and all of it’s natural. Green tea also has plant compounds called catechins that give you a powerful antioxidant boost.

Take a Break From Work

Tiredness is your body’s way of telling you it needs something. And that something might be as simple as a break. It’s tempting to keep working. But when you give your mind and body a few minutes away, you’ll be more focused and productive when you return.

Open the Blinds

Don’t underestimate the power of light. At a core level, your body takes its cues from light to know when to wake up and when to go to sleep. If you’re feeling tired during the workday, bright sunlight or a light therapy lamp can help you feel awake and alert.

Try a Standing Desk

If you have a desk job, most of the action happens in your mind. Your arms may move a bit on a keyboard, but your lower half stays static. If you alternate between a sitting and standing desk, it keeps your body and blood moving.

Grab an Energy-Boosting Snack

These keep your body fueled and offset energy dips in the afternoon. This is a good time to get vitamins, minerals, fiber, and a solid hit of protein in: Reach for yogurt, a piece of fruit, or crunchy vegetables.

Cut Back on Sugar

Like caffeine, sugar gives you a quick, easy boost, but you’ll pay for it later with low blood sugar and a big drop in energy. Get healthy amounts of sugar naturally from fruit or drinks with 100% fruit juice.

Take a Catnap

Give in! A quick nap could be just what your body needs to reset and feel refreshed. Seta 15-minute timerand shut the door to your office or recline the seat in your car. Aim to get your nap in before 3 p.m. so it doesn’t mess with your nighttime sleep cycle.

Turn On Energetic Music

Ever notice how a song can boost your mood and wake up your whole body? Music tells your brain to produce more dopamine, the hormone that helps you feel pleasure. It also helps your blood flow more freely. Think of it as audio caffeine.

Chew Gum

It’s not about how many bubbles you can blow. The physical act of chewing gets your heart rate going and increases blood flow to your brain. This wakes your body up and makes you more alert.

Thank you for stopping by John's Island. I look forward to hearing from you in the comments.

John